Communication System, Control Terminal, Control Method, and Recording Medium

This application claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application Number 2024-110073, filed on Jul. 9, 2024, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a communication system, a control terminal, a control method, and a recording medium.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2023-121394 discloses a technique for causing a communication device which has already joined a mesh network to withdraw from the mesh network.

In order to cause a plurality of communication devices to withdraw from a mesh network, it is necessary to identify the communication devices which are caused to withdraw and to perform communication. This takes time and effort.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a communication system, a control terminal, a control method, and a recording medium which can cause a communication device to more easily withdraw from a mesh network.

A communication system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of devices that form a mesh network, and perform wireless communication in a first wireless communication mode in the mesh network; and a control terminal, the control terminal: connects to a first device among the plurality of devices by wireless communication in a second wireless communication mode different from the first wireless communication mode; and transmits, to the first device, a withdrawal request signal for causing a second device different from the first device among the plurality of devices to withdraw from the mesh network, and when the second device receives the withdrawal request signal from the first device via the mesh network, the second device withdraws from the mesh network. A control terminal according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a wireless communicator; and a controller, and using the wireless communicator, the controller: connects to a first device among a plurality of devices by wireless communication in a second wireless communication mode different from a first wireless communication mode, the plurality of devices forming a mesh network and performing wireless communication in the first wireless communication mode in the mesh network; and transmits, to the first device, a withdrawal request signal for causing a second device different from the first device among the plurality of devices to withdraw from the mesh network.

A control method according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: connecting, by a control terminal, to a first device among a plurality of devices by wireless communication in a second wireless communication mode different t wireless communication mode, the plurality of devices forming a mesh network and performing wireless communication in the first wireless communication mode in the mesh network; transmitting, by the control terminal, to the first device, a withdrawal request signal for causing a second device different from the first device among the plurality of devices to withdraw from the mesh network; and withdrawing, by the second device, from the mesh network when the second device receives the withdrawal request signal from the first device via the mesh network.

A control method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a control method performed by a control terminal, and the control method includes: connecting to a first device among a plurality of devices by wireless communication in a second wireless communication mode different from a first wireless communication mode, the plurality of devices forming a mesh network and performing wireless communication in the first wireless communication mode in the mesh network; and transmitting, to the first device, a withdrawal request signal for causing a second device different from the first device among the plurality of devices to withdraw from the mesh network.

The present disclosure can be realized not only as the control method described above but also a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a program for causing a computer to execute the control method.

A communication system, a control method, and a recording medium according to the present disclosure can cause a communication device to more easily withdraw from a mesh network.

A communication system, a control terminal, a control method, and a recording medium according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to drawings. The embodiment described below indicates a specific example of the present disclosure. Numerical values, constituent elements, the arrangement and connection of the constituent elements, steps, the order of the steps, and the like shown in the following embodiment are examples, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Among the constituent elements in the following embodiment, constituent elements which are not recited in the independent claims are described as optional constituent elements in a form.

The drawings each are schematic diagrams, and are not exactly shown. In the drawings, substantially the same configurations are identified with the same reference signs, and repeated description may be omitted or simplified.

1 FIG. 1 FIG. 10 10 20 30 The configuration of the communication system according to the embodiment will first be described.is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of communication systemaccording to the embodiment. As shown in, communication systemincludes a plurality of devicesand control terminal.

10 20 40 10 20 40 2 FIG. 2 FIG. In communication system, each of deviceshas a wireless communication function, and the communication devices form mesh network.is a schematic diagram of the network in communication systemaccording to the embodiment. Each circle incorresponds to one device(in other words, a communication node). In mesh network, when information is transmitted from a certain communication node (which is also referred to as a first communication node) to another communication node (which is also referred to as a second communication node), the information is transmitted in, for example, a routing mode, but may be transmitted in another mode such as a flooding mode.

40 40 40 40 In mesh network, a communication path is set which can distribute information to communication nodes belonging to mesh networkin advance. When the first communication node transmits, in a unicast mode, information including the address information (destination information) of the second communication node based on the set communication path, the other communication nodes that have received this information and belong to mesh networkidentical to the first communication node further transmit the received information in the unicast mode based on the set communication path. In other words, the other communication nodes relay the information. The relay of the information as described above is repeated in identical mesh network, and thus the second communication node can receive the information transmitted by the first communication node.

40 40 40 The first communication node may broadcast the information including the address information (destination information) of the second communication node, and each of the other communication nodes that have received this information and belong to mesh networkidentical to the first communication node may relay the received information and further broadcast the received information. The relay of the information as described above is repeated in identical mesh network, and thus the information transmitted by the first communication node is distributed to all the communication nodes belonging to mesh networkidentical to the first communication node. Hence, the second communication node can receive the information transmitted by the first communication node.

40 20 40 20 40 40 The information transmitted via mesh networkis, for example, a withdrawal request signal for causing deviceto withdraw from mesh network. For example, when deviceis a lighting fixture, the information transmitted via mesh networkis control information for performing lighting control, extinction control, or dimming control on the lighting fixture. When mesh networkincludes an environmental sensor, the measurement value (sensing information) of the environmental sensor may be transmitted.

10 20 40 In communication system, wireless communication between devices(hereinafter also simply referred to as communication) is performed according to, for example, a first communication protocol for mesh network. The first communication protocol is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) mesh. The first communication protocol is an example of a first wireless communication mode.

30 40 30 20 30 2 FIG. On the other hand, since control terminalindicated by a rectangle indoes not belong to mesh network, control terminalcannot communicate with devicesusing the first communication protocol. However, control terminalhas a communication function using a second communication protocol for one-to-one communication. The second communication protocol is a communication protocol different from the first communication protocol, and is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE). The first communication protocol and the second communication protocol may use the same frequency band (for example, a 2.4 GHz band). The second communication protocol is an example of a second wireless communication mode.

20 20 20 20 20 Devicewill first be described. Devicemay be a device which can communicate with a device other than device, and deviceis, for example, a lighting fixture. For example, devicemay be a scheduler, an environmental sensor, a camera, or the like.

20 20 40 40 The lighting fixture which is an example of devicewill be further described. The lighting fixture is a base light or the like which is installed on the ceiling of an indoor space and illuminates the indoor space. As described above, each of a plurality of lighting fixtures which are deviceshas a wireless communication function. The lighting fixtures join mesh network(more specifically, a wireless mesh network) to form mesh network. The form of the lighting fixture is not particularly limited, and may be a celling light, a down light, a spot light, or the like.

20 21 22 23 24 Specifically, deviceincludes wireless communicator, information processor, storage, and function realizer.

21 20 30 20 20 40 21 40 20 40 21 30 21 Wireless communicatoris a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication with other devicesand control terminalperformed by device. After devicejoins mesh network, wireless communicatorcan perform communication via mesh network. Before devicejoins mesh network, wireless communicatorperiodically transmits a beacon signal (which is also referred to as an advertisement signal or the like), and individually performs wireless communication with control terminalwhich has received the beacon signal. The communication standard of the wireless communication performed by wireless communicatoris specifically BLE, Bluetooth (registered trademark) mesh or the like.

22 20 22 24 20 22 22 23 22 22 221 222 223 Information processorexecutes information processing and the like for operating device. Information processorcontrols function realizerto operate device. Information processoris realized, for example, by a microcomputer, but may be realized by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The hardware, such as a microcomputer or a processor, of information processorexecutes a computer program (software) stored in storage, and thus the function of information processoris realized. Specifically, information processorincludes acquirer, controller, and outputter.

221 Acquireracquires the withdrawal request signal and the like.

222 20 221 Controllercontrols devicebased on the withdrawal request signal and the like acquired by acquirer.

223 221 20 Outputtertransmits the withdrawal request signal acquired by acquirerto other devices.

23 22 23 23 20 40 Storageis a storage device in which information necessary for information processing on a computer program and the like executed by information processoris stored. Storageis realized, for example, by a semiconductor memory. The computer program stored in storageincludes a dedicated application program for causing deviceto transmit the withdrawal request signal via mesh network.

24 20 20 24 22 20 24 20 Function realizeris a device for realizing the function of devicein the operation of device. Function realizeris controlled by information processor. For example, when deviceis a lighting device, function realizeris a light source. The light source emits white light into an indoor space such that deviceserving as the lighting device illuminates the indoor space. The light source is realized, for example, by a light emitting diode (LED) element, but may be realized by another light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser, an organic electro luminescence (EL), or an inorganic EL.

30 30 20 40 40 20 30 20 40 30 20 40 20 10 Control terminalwill then be described. Control terminalis an information terminal which is used so that a user causes deviceto join or withdraw from mesh networkto construct mesh networkusing devices. Control terminalis also used so that the user sets deviceswhich form mesh network. Control terminalis also used so that the user controls deviceswhich form mesh network. The user here is, for example, an installer who has performed an installation operation on devices, but may be another user other than the installer. The user may be, for example, an administrator of communication systemor the like.

30 30 10 30 31 32 33 34 35 Control terminalis, for example, a portable terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). Control terminalmay be a dedicated remote controller which is used in communication system. Specifically, control terminalincludes wireless communicator, information processor, storage, operation receiver, and display.

31 20 30 31 Wireless communicatoris a communication circuit for communication (more specifically, wireless communication) with devicesperformed by control terminal. The communication standard of the communication performed by wireless communicatoris, for example, BLE.

32 30 34 32 20 40 20 23 20 20 40 40 32 32 33 32 32 321 322 323 Information processorexecutes information processing according to an operation of the user received by control terminalvia operation receiver. For example, information processorexecutes information processing on processing for causing deviceto withdraw from mesh network. Here, an example of the processing for causing deviceto withdraw is to change or delete setting information which is stored in storageof devicewhen devicejoins mesh network. The setting information is information necessary for communication in mesh network. Information processoris realized, for example, by a microcomputer, but may be realized by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The hardware, such as a microcomputer or a processor, of information processorexecutes a computer program (software) stored in storage, and thus the function of information processoris realized. Specifically, information processorincludes acquirer, controller, and outputter.

321 34 Acquireracquires an operation of the user received by operation receiverand the like.

322 30 20 40 Controllerexecutes information processing so that control terminalcauses deviceto withdraw from mesh network, and the like.

323 Outputteroutputs the withdrawal request signal.

33 32 33 33 30 20 40 Storageis a storage device in which information necessary for information processing on a computer program and the like executed by information processoris stored. Storageis realized, for example, by a semiconductor memory or the like. The computer program stored in storageincludes a dedicated application program for causing control terminalto transmit the withdrawal request signal for causing deviceto withdraw from mesh network.

34 34 Operation receiverreceives an operation performed by the user. Operation receiveris realized, for example, by a touch panel or the like.

35 20 40 20 40 35 Displaydisplays various types of images. The various types of images are, for example, images necessary for processing for causing deviceto join mesh networkand processing for causing deviceto withdraw from mesh network. Displayis realized, for example, by a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel.

10 20 40 30 20 20 20 20 The operation of communication systemaccording to the embodiment will then be described. In general, in order to cause deviceto withdraw from mesh network, control terminalconnects to devicewhich is caused to withdraw by communication in the second wireless communication mode, transmits the withdrawal request signal to device, and then releases the communication connection to device. In the general operation as described above, in order to cause a plurality of devicesto withdraw, it is necessary to repeatedly perform the communication connection and the release of the communication connection, and this takes time.

10 30 20 30 20 40 20 40 20 By contrast, in communication system, in a state where control terminalconnects to arbitrary one deviceby the communication in the second wireless communication mode, control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal to target devicesvia mesh networkwith the one device used as a starting point. In this way, it is possible to cause devicesto withdraw from mesh networkwithout the user directly connecting to devicesof withdrawal targets in the second wireless communication mode.

20 20 3 FIG. The operation of devicewhen the withdrawal request signal is transmitted will first be described.is a flowchart illustrating the operation of devicein the embodiment.

221 20 1 40 Acquirerof devicefirst acquires the withdrawal request signal (S). The withdrawal request signal is a signal for causing a withdrawal target device to withdraw from mesh network, and includes information for identifying the withdrawal target device such as the identification number of the withdrawal target device. The withdrawal target device is an example of a second device.

221 222 20 20 2 222 20 20 When acquireracquires the withdrawal request signal, controllerof devicedetermines whether the target (destination) of the acquired withdrawal request signal is device(S). For example, controllerchecks the identification number of the withdrawal target device included in the withdrawal request signal against the identification number of deviceto determine whether the target of the acquired withdrawal request signal is device.

20 2 20 222 20 40 When the target of the withdrawal request signal is determined to be device(Yes in S), that is, when the withdrawal target device is determined to be device, controllercauses deviceto withdraw from mesh network.

20 40 223 30 40 3 222 23 4 40 20 40 40 20 When devicewithdraws from mesh network, outputtertransmits a withdrawal success signal to control terminalvia mesh network(S). Controllerdeletes network information stored in storage(S). The network information deleted here includes the network ID of mesh network, the address information of deviceused in communication in mesh network, and the like. The network information deleted may further include information used for the operation of the withdrawal target device in mesh networksuch as control group setting information indicating the group of predetermined devicescontrolled together with the withdrawal target device and control pattern setting information indicating the details of an operation when a predetermined control signal is acquired.

4 3 3 4 Although the processing in step Sis performed after the processing in step S, the processing in step Sand the processing in step Smay be performed simultaneously.

2 20 223 40 5 223 221 40 When the target of the withdrawal request signal is determined to be another device (No in S), that is, when the withdrawal target device is determined not to be device, outputtertransmits the withdrawal request signal via mesh network(S). Outputtertransmits the withdrawal request signal acquired by acquirervia mesh network.

20 20 40 40 20 40 40 20 30 20 40 30 20 40 30 20 40 In the operation as described above, devicecan transmit the withdrawal request signal to all devicesforming mesh network. In this way, it is possible to transmit the withdrawal request signal to the withdrawal target device via mesh network, and thus the user can cause deviceto more easily withdraw from mesh network. When withdrawal of the withdrawal target device from mesh networkprevents devicefrom communicating with control terminal, deviceattempts to reconstruct mesh networkto communicate with control terminal. Deviceas described above can assist mesh networkin maintaining a state where information from control terminalcan be transmitted to all devicesincluded in mesh network.

20 40 30 40 30 20 40 30 30 4 FIG. As described above, devicecan transmit the withdrawal request signal via mesh network. By utilizing the function described above, control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal by the communication via mesh networkand the communication performed by direct connection in the two wireless communication modes. Control terminalas described above can cause deviceto withdraw from mesh networkat high speed and more reliably. Operation example 1 of control terminalas described above will be described below.is a flowchart illustrating operation example 1 of control terminalaccording to the embodiment.

30 20 31 11 20 30 31 30 21 20 Control terminalfirst connects to arbitrary devicevia wireless communicator(S). Arbitrary deviceconnected to control terminalis an example of a first device. Wireless communicatorof control terminalcommunicates with wireless communicatorof arbitrary devicein the second wireless communication mode.

323 30 12 323 31 21 40 40 40 Then, outputterof control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal to the withdrawal target device (S). The withdrawal request signal transmitted by outputteris transmitted to the withdrawal target device via wireless communicator, wireless communicatorof the first device, and mesh network. The withdrawal target device is an example of the second device. The withdrawal target device is a device which is caused by the user to withdraw from mesh network. The withdrawal request signal is a signal for causing the withdrawal target device to withdraw from mesh network, and includes information for identifying the withdrawal target device.

322 13 321 322 Then, controllerdetermines whether the withdrawal target device has successfully withdrawn (S). When acquireracquires the withdrawal success signal, controllerdetermines that the withdrawal target device has successfully withdrawn.

223 20 223 40 30 40 322 30 322 Here, when outputterof devicewhich relays the withdrawal request signal does not acquire the withdrawal success signal from the withdrawal target device, outputtertransmits a withdrawal failure signal indicating that the withdrawal target device has failed to withdraw from mesh networkto control terminalvia mesh network. When controllerof control terminalacquires the withdrawal failure signal, controllerdetermines that the withdrawal target device has failed to withdraw.

321 322 40 When acquirerhas not acquired the withdrawal success signal for a predetermined period, controllermay determine that the withdrawal has failed. The predetermined period is, for example, twice the time necessary for the distribution of the withdrawal request signal to entire mesh network.

322 13 30 21 31 14 30 34 When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal target device has failed to withdraw (No in S), control terminalconnects to wireless communicatorof the withdrawal target device via wireless communicatorin the second wireless communication mode (S). The connection of control terminalto the withdrawal target device in the second wireless communication mode may be performed automatically, or may be performed after the confirmation of the user is acquired via operation receiver.

323 15 31 21 30 30 Outputtertransmits the withdrawal request signal to the withdrawal target device (S). The withdrawal request signal is transmitted to the withdrawal target device via wireless communicatorand wireless communicator. Since control terminalconnects to the withdrawal target device in the second wireless communication mode, control terminalcan cause the withdrawal target device to receive the withdrawal request signal reliably.

30 40 In other words, the user connects control terminaland the withdrawal target device in the second wireless communication mode to transmit the withdrawal request signal, and thereby can cause the withdrawal target device to withdraw from mesh networkrealizably.

322 16 322 322 322 35 34 20 40 40 35 322 40 322 Then, controllerdetermines whether a withdrawal operation has been completed (S). For example, when controlleracquires a withdrawal operation completion instruction, controllerdetermines that the withdrawal operation has been completed. Controllercauses displayto display a screen for causing the user to select whether the withdrawal operation has been completed, causes operation receiverto receive the selection made by the user, and thereby acquires the withdrawal operation completion instruction. For example, when the user has caused all deviceswhich are caused to withdraw from mesh networkto withdraw from mesh network, the user taps an icon displayed on displayto input the withdrawal operation completion instruction. For example, when controllerhas previously received, from the user, selections for all the withdrawal target devices which are caused to withdraw from mesh network, and has acquired the withdrawal success signal from all the withdrawal target devices, controllerdetermines that the withdrawal operation has been completed.

322 16 11 30 20 31 11 40 322 16 30 When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal operation has not been completed (No in S), the process returns to the processing in step S, and thus control terminalconnects to arbitrary devicevia wireless communicatorin the second wireless communication mode (S). Thereafter, the withdrawal request signal is transmitted to another withdrawal target device via mesh network. When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal operation has been completed (Yes in S), control terminalcompletes the operation.

322 13 322 17 322 17 12 323 30 12 322 17 31 30 20 18 30 When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal target device has successfully withdrawn (Yes in S), controllerdetermines whether the withdrawal operation has been completed (S). When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal operation has not been completed (No in S), the process returns to the processing in step S, and thus outputterof control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal to another withdrawal target device (S). When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal operation has been completed (Yes in S), wireless communicatorof control terminaldisconnects the communication with arbitrary device(S), and thus control terminalcompletes the operation.

30 40 10 20 40 In operation example 1 as described above, control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal by the communication via mesh networkand the communication performed by direct connection in the two wireless communication modes. In communication systemas described above, the user can cause deviceto withdraw from mesh networkmore reliably.

20 40 20 40 10 20 When a plurality of devicesare caused to withdraw via mesh network, depending on the order of the withdrawal, devicemay be disadvantageously isolated from mesh network. However, in communication systemas described above, devicewhich has been isolated can be directly connected in the second wireless communication mode to withdraw.

20 40 30 20 40 30 20 30 30 5 FIG. When the user causes a plurality of devicesto withdraw from mesh network, control terminalstores the identification number of devicewhich has attempted to withdraw via mesh networkbut has failed to withdraw, and thus it is possible to reduce the number of times control terminaland deviceare connected in the second wireless communication mode. Operation example 2 of control terminalas described above will be described below.is a flowchart illustrating operation example 2 of control terminalaccording to the embodiment.

30 20 31 21 31 30 21 20 Control terminalfirst connects to arbitrary devicevia wireless communicator(S). Wireless communicatorof control terminalcommunicates with wireless communicatorof arbitrary devicein the second wireless communication mode.

323 30 22 323 31 21 40 Then, outputterof control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal to the withdrawal target device (S). The withdrawal request signal transmitted by outputteris transmitted to the withdrawal target device via wireless communicator, wireless communicatorof the first device, and mesh network. The withdrawal request signal includes information for identifying the withdrawal target device, and the information for identifying the withdrawal target device is, for example, the identification number of the withdrawal target device.

322 23 321 322 321 322 Then, controllerdetermines whether the withdrawal target device has successfully withdrawn (S). For example, when acquireracquires the withdrawal success signal, controllerdetermines that the withdrawal target device has successfully withdrawn, and when acquireracquires the withdrawal failure signal, controllerdetermines that the withdrawal target device has failed to withdraw.

322 23 322 33 24 40 When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal target device has failed to withdraw (No in S), controllerstores the identification number of a withdrawal failure device in storage(S). The withdrawal failure device is a device among withdrawal target devices which has failed to withdraw using the withdrawal request signal transmitted via mesh network.

322 23 322 40 25 322 35 34 322 40 40 When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal target device has successfully withdrawn (Yes in S), or when the identification number of the withdrawal failure device is stored, controllerdetermines whether the withdrawal request signal has been transmitted to all the withdrawal target devices via mesh network(S). For example, controllercauses displayto display a screen for causing the user to select whether the withdrawal request signal has been transmitted to all the withdrawal target devices, causes operation receiverto receive the selection made by the user, and thereby determines whether the withdrawal request signal has been transmitted to all the withdrawal target devices. For example, controllerhas previously received selections for all the withdrawal target devices which are caused to withdraw from mesh network, and determines, based on the selections, whether the withdrawal request signal has been transmitted to all the withdrawal target devices via mesh network.

322 25 22 40 When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal request signal has not been transmitted to all the withdrawal target devices (No in S), the process returns to the processing in step S, and thus the withdrawal request signal is transmitted to the withdrawal target device via mesh network.

322 25 31 30 20 26 When controllerdetermines that the withdrawal request signal has been transmitted to all the withdrawal target devices (Yes in S), wireless communicatorof control terminaldisconnects arbitrary device(S).

31 30 21 27 Then, wireless communicatorof control terminalconnects to one wireless communicatoramong one or more withdrawal failure devices in the second wireless communication mode (S).

323 28 31 21 30 30 Outputtertransmits the withdrawal request signal to the withdrawal failure device (S). The withdrawal request signal is transmitted to the withdrawal failure device via wireless communicatorand wireless communicator. Since control terminalconnects to the withdrawal failure device in the second wireless communication mode, control terminalcan cause the withdrawal failure device to receive the withdrawal request signal reliably.

30 40 In other words, the user connects control terminaland the withdrawal failure device in the second wireless communication mode to transmit the withdrawal request signal, and thereby can cause the withdrawal failure device to withdraw from mesh networkrealizably.

322 322 29 322 33 When controllercauses the withdrawal failure device to withdraw, controllerdetermines whether all the withdrawal failure devices have been caused to withdraw (S). For example, controllerreferences the identification numbers of the withdrawal failure devices stored in storageto determine whether all the withdrawal failure devices have been caused to withdraw.

322 29 27 30 When controllerdetermines that all the withdrawal failure devices have not been caused to withdraw (No in S), the process returns to the processing in step S, and thus control terminalconnects to one of the withdrawal failure devices in the second wireless communication mode.

322 29 30 When controllerdetermines that all the withdrawal failure devices have been caused to withdraw (Yes in S), control terminalcompletes the operation.

30 27 29 When no withdrawal failure device is present, control terminalcompletes the operation without performing the processing in steps Sto S.

30 20 30 20 40 20 10 20 40 In operation example 2 as described above, control terminalstores the identification numbers of deviceswhich have failed to withdraw, and thus control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal to a plurality of devicesvia mesh network, and then directly connects to each of deviceswhich have failed to withdraw to be able to transmit the withdrawal request signal. In communication systemas described above, the user can cause devicesto more easily withdraw from mesh network.

30 40 20 20 40 40 30 20 40 Control terminalcan previously receive, from the user, selections for a plurality of withdrawal target devices which are caused to withdraw from mesh network. In a case where a plurality of withdrawal target devices are caused to withdraw, if devicebeing directly connected is included in the withdrawal target devices, when devicewithdraws from mesh network, the other withdrawal target devices cannot be caused to withdraw via mesh network. The operation of a variation of control terminalwhich can cause deviceto more easily withdraw from mesh networkeven in such conditions will be described below.

6 FIG. 6 FIG. 5 FIG. 30 30 20 30 21 30 20 31 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the variation of control terminalaccording to the embodiment.shows an operation which is performed when control terminalreceives selections for a plurality of withdrawal target devices from the user, and devicebeing directly connected is included in the withdrawal target devices. Control terminalfirst performs the processing in step Sshown in. In other words, control terminalconnects to arbitrary devicevia wireless communicator.

322 20 31 Then, controllerdetermines an order in which one or more withdrawal request signals are transmitted such that the withdrawal request signal for devicebeing connected is transmitted last (S).

323 30 22 322 323 322 26 31 30 20 20 20 40 26 5 FIG. Outputterof control terminalperforms the processing in step Sshown inaccording to the order in which the withdrawal request signals are transmitted and which is determined by controller. In other words, outputtertransmits the withdrawal request signals to the withdrawal target devices according to the order in which the withdrawal request signals are transmitted and which is determined by controller. In this case, the processing in step S, that is, the processing in which wireless communicatorof control terminaldisconnects arbitrary deviceis not performed because arbitrary device(devicebeing directly connected) has withdrawn from mesh networkbefore the process proceeds to step S.

21 11 22 12 322 40 13 20 20 20 40 30 31 14 5 FIG. 4 FIG. 5 FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIG. In the variation described above, step Sshown inmay be replaced by step Sshown in, and step Sshown inmay be replaced by step Sshown in. In this case, when controllerdetermines that the withdrawal target device has failed to withdraw using the withdrawal request signal via mesh network(No in Sshown in), before the connection to devicebeing connected is disconnected, the withdrawal request signal is transmitted to devicebeing connected, and thus devicebeing connected is caused to withdraw from mesh networkso that control terminalconnects to the withdrawal target device via wireless communicatorin the second wireless communication mode (Sin).

20 30 20 30 40 30 20 20 40 In the operation as described above, deviceto which control terminalconnects is caused to withdraw, and thus it is possible to suppress the incapability of causing deviceswhich are not directly connected to control terminalto withdraw via mesh network, with the result that it is possible to reduce the number of times control terminaland arbitrary deviceare directly connected in the second wireless communication mode. Hence, the user can cause devicesto more easily withdraw from mesh network.

Examples of techniques derived from the disclosure of the present specification include the following techniques. The techniques derived from the disclosure of the present specification will be described below together with effects and the like obtained by the techniques.

1 10 20 40 40 30 30 20 20 40 40 40 Techniqueis communication systemincluding: a plurality of devicesthat form mesh network, and perform wireless communication in a first wireless communication mode in mesh network; and control terminal, control terminal: connects to a first device among the plurality of devicesby wireless communication in a second wireless communication mode different from the first wireless communication mode; and transmits, to the first device, a withdrawal request signal for causing a second device different from the first device among the plurality of devicesto withdraw from mesh network, and when the second device receives the withdrawal request signal from the first device via mesh network, the second device withdraws from mesh network.

10 20 20 40 10 40 20 30 10 20 40 Communication systemas described above can transmit, while connecting to arbitrary one device, the withdrawal request signal to the plurality of devicesvia mesh network. In other words, communication systemcan transmit, via mesh network, the withdrawal request signal to deviceswhich are not directly connected to control terminal. Hence, communication systemas described above can cause devicesto more easily withdraw from mesh network.

2 10 1 40 30 In techniquewhich is communication systemof technique, when the second device fails to withdraw from mesh network, control terminalconnects to the second device by the wireless communication in the second wireless communication mode, and transmits the withdrawal request signal to the second device.

10 30 40 10 20 40 In communication systemas described above, control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal by the communication via mesh networkand the communication performed by direct connection in the two wireless communication modes. In communication systemas described above, the user can cause deviceto withdraw from mesh networkmore reliably.

3 10 1 2 40 30 In techniquewhich is communication systemof techniqueor, when the second device fails to withdraw from mesh network, control terminalstores identification information of the second device.

10 20 40 20 40 30 20 30 20 40 20 10 20 40 In communication systemas described above, when the user causes a plurality of devicesto withdraw from mesh network, if deviceshave failed to withdraw using the withdrawal request signal transmitted via mesh network, control terminalstores the identification numbers of deviceswhich have failed to withdraw, and thus control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal to devicesvia mesh network, and then directly connects to each of deviceswhich have failed to withdraw to be able to transmit the withdrawal request signal. In communication systemas described above, the user can cause devicesto more easily withdraw from mesh network.

4 10 1 3 40 20 30 40 30 In techniquewhich is communication systemof any one of techniquesto, when withdrawal of the second device from mesh networkprevents each of the plurality of devicesfrom communicating with control terminal, the device reconstructs mesh networkto communicate with control terminal.

10 40 30 20 40 Communication systemas described above can assist mesh networkin maintaining a state where information from control terminalcan be transmitted to all devicesincluded in mesh network.

5 10 1 4 30 10 20 30 40 In techniquewhich is communication systemof any one of techniquesto, control terminalfurther transmits, by the wireless communication in the second wireless communication mode, a first device withdrawal request signal for causing the first device to withdraw from the mesh network. In communication systemas described above, it is possible to cause deviceswhich are directly connected to control terminalto withdraw from mesh network.

6 10 5 30 30 In techniquewhich is communication systemof technique, when control terminaltransmits the first device withdrawal request signal, if the second device to be withdrawn is present, control terminaltransmits the withdrawal request signal before transmitting the first device withdrawal request signal.

10 20 30 20 30 40 In communication systemas described above, deviceto which control terminalconnects is caused to withdraw, and thus it is possible to suppress the incapability of causing deviceswhich are not directly connected to control terminalto withdraw via mesh network

7 10 1 6 20 In techniquewhich is communication systemof any one of techniquesto, the plurality of devicesinclude a lighting device which includes a wireless communication function.

10 40 In communication systemas described above, the user can cause the lighting device to more easily withdraw from mesh network.

8 30 31 322 31 322 20 20 40 40 20 40 Techniqueis control terminalincluding: wireless communicator; and controller, and using wireless communicator, controller: connects to a first device among a plurality of devicesby wireless communication in a second wireless communication mode different from a first wireless communication mode, the plurality of devicesforming mesh networkand performing wireless first communication in the wireless communication mode in mesh network; and transmits, to the first device, a withdrawal request signal for causing a second device different from the first device among the plurality of devicesto withdraw from mesh network.

30 20 40 In control terminalas described above, the user can cause devicesto more easily withdraw from mesh network.

9 30 20 20 40 40 30 20 40 40 40 Techniqueis a control method including: connecting, by control terminal, to a first device among a plurality of devicesby wireless communication in a second wireless communication mode different from a first wireless communication mode, the plurality of devicesforming mesh networkand performing wireless communication in the first wireless communication mode in mesh network; transmitting, by control terminal, to the first device, a withdrawal request signal for causing a second device different from the first device among the plurality of devicesto withdraw from mesh network; and withdrawing, by the second device, from mesh networkwhen the second device receives the withdrawal request signal from the first device via mesh network.

20 30 40 20 40 In the control method as described above, it is possible to transmit the withdrawal request signal to deviceswhich are not directly connected to control terminalvia mesh network. Hence, in the control method as described above, the user can cause devicesto more easily withdraw from mesh network.

10 30 9 Techniqueis a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a program for causing control terminaland the second device to perform the control method of technique.

20 40 The recording medium as described above can assist in causing devicesto more easily withdraw from mesh network.

11 30 20 20 40 40 20 40 Techniqueis a control method that is performed by control terminal, and the control method includes: connecting to a first device among a plurality of devicesby wireless communication in a second wireless communication mode different from a first wireless communication mode, the plurality of devicesforming mesh networkand performing wireless communication in the first wireless communication mode in mesh network; and transmitting, to the first device, a withdrawal request signal for causing a second device different from the first device among the plurality of devicesto withdraw from mesh network.

30 20 30 40 30 20 40 In the control method as described above, control terminalcan transmit the withdrawal request signal to deviceswhich are not directly connected to control terminalvia mesh network. Hence, in the control method as described above, the user can use control terminalto cause devicesto more easily withdraw from mesh network.

12 11 Techniqueis a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a program for causing a computer to execute the control method of technique.

30 20 40 The recording medium as described above can assist the user in using control terminalto cause devicesto more easily withdraw from mesh network.

Although the embodiment has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above. The communication method between the devices described in the embodiment is an example. The communication method between the devices is not particularly limited.

In the embodiment described above, processing which is executed by a specific processor may be executed by another processor. The order of a plurality of processing steps may be changed, or a plurality of processing steps may be executed in parallel.

In the embodiment described above, constituent elements such as the controller may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each of the constituent elements. A program executer such as a CPU or a processor may read and execute a software program recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory to realize each of the constituent elements.

The constituent elements such as the controller may be realized by hardware. For example, the constituent elements such as the controller may be circuits (or integrated circuits). These circuits may form one circuit as a whole, or may be separate circuits. Each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

A general or specific form of the present disclosure may be realized by a system, a device, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The general or specific form may be realized by any combination of a system, a device, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium. For example, the present disclosure may be realized as the communication system or the information terminal in the embodiment described above, or may be realized as an information processing method executed by the information terminal. The present disclosure may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method as described above, or may be realized as a non-transitory recording medium in which the program as described above is recorded. The program as described above includes an application program for causing a computer such as a general-purpose information terminal to function as the information terminal in the embodiment described above.

Embodiments obtained by performing various types of variations conceivable by those skilled in the art on the embodiments and embodiments realized by arbitrarily combining constituent elements and functions in the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure are also included in the present disclosure.

While the foregoing has described one or more embodiments and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that they may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.